LOUIS XV STYLE BOX IN ROSEWOOD, GILT BRONZE AND PORCELAIN, NAPOLEON III

An important Louis XV style chest veneered in rosewood with gilt bronze mounts. The chest features rosewood veneer on all sides, mounted in a herringbone pattern. The corners are highlighted with delicate gilt bronze moldings in a rocaille and gadrooned design. The chest rests on four scrolling feet. The upper corners are decorated with "espagnolette" motifs, depicting graceful female busts whose bodies terminate in scrolling sheaths.  The lid of the chest is set with a porcelain medallion in the Sèvres style, depicting a gallant scene: a young couple in a wooded area, watched over by a woman. The interior of the restored chest is lined with a silky moiré fabric.

This work is characteristic of the Napoleon III style or the Eclectic style that developed during the second half of the 19th century. The desire to renew the decorative arts led artists to draw inspiration from past styles such as Louis XV and Louis XVI. Empress Eugénie, wishing to refurnish the royal châteaux, commissioned numerous pieces of furniture inspired by the Louis XV and Louis XVI styles.